Standing Bear Lake Station

Aerial View of Standing Bear Lake Station - Oct. 2024

OPPD's Power with Purpose project identified the need for up to 600MW of utility-scale solar and 600MW of balancing natural gas generation to support growing customer demands. The combined solution of utility-scale solar and natural gas continues to support our mission of providing affordable, reliable, environmentally sensitive energy services. While OPPD considers all three parts of our mission equally, new utility-scale solar and balancing natural gas power generation are now must-haves to support continued reliability.

In 2023, the OPPD Board of Directors voted to approve the utility’s recommended near term generation resource plan to address unprecedented growth in energy demand. With this new plan, OPPD remains committed to its Power with Purpose generation expansion projects, which includes Turtle Creek Station (450 MW), Standing Bear Lake Station (150 MW), and Platteview Solar (81 MW).

Standing Bear Lake Station will be located near North 120th Street and Military Road. It will include nine reciprocating engines for generation, along with a substation for transmission.

Standing Bear Lake Station will be used to balance the energy load. The plant will run only as needed (estimated at less than 15% of the time) and will be available to support planned (maintenance) and unplanned (storms) outages, as well as be available to support regional power needs as directed by the Southwest Power Pool. Adding natural gas generation will help OPPD meet the growing energy needs of our service territory and support resiliency. That means OPPD can continue providing energy to our customers even in an unpredictable future.

Adding natural gas generation will help OPPD meet the growing energy needs of our service territory and support resiliency. That means OPPD can continue providing energy to our customers even when operations are impacted by a major storm event.

Reciprocating Internal Combustion Engines (RICE)

The utility has selected nine Wärtsilä 18V50DF reciprocating internal combustion engines (RICE) to power OPPD’s new Standing Bear Lake Station in northwest Omaha.

RICE technology converts natural gas into energy to drive a generator, which produces electricity. These natural gas internal combustion engines Wärtsilä will provide can also run on light fuel oil, adding fuel flexibility.

The engines are capable of running on a 15% hydrogen/natural gas blend in support of future technology advancements. RICE engines offer fast start-up to rapidly address the influx of renewables and the changing generation needs of the electrical grid.

Preliminary Map

This preliminary and conceptual map shows the layout of the Standing Bear Lake Station site as of November 2021. The map outlines where the new natural gas generation peaking station and substation may be located. The existing cell phone tower has been removed and a new permanent cell tower will be placed on the M.U.D. property. The map also shows the area on the northwest triangle of the property will be used to support construction staging through the project duration only.

Additional Site Information

Community Meeting: North 120th & Military Road

OPPD The Wire: New facility names reflect history, geography of region

OPPD The Wire: OPPD presents details of new backup natural gas generation

OPPD The Wire: OPPD signs contract for two natural gas generation stations

RambleRidge Neighborhood Homeowners Association: Nov. 2021 Presentation

OPPD The Wire: Work progressing at natural gas sites

OPPD The Wire: OPPD seeks to extend current operations at North Omaha Station

OPPD The Wire: Video: Massive engines mark a Power with Purpose milestone

OPPD The Wire: Two natural gas generating plants set to come online this summer